Page 7 of A Fresh Start on Crumcarey
‘I guessed she must be – working at the Tallyaff and all,’ said Luke. ‘But… I don’t even know where she lives.’
‘Right there,’ said Mr Harris, pointing at the sad, broken-down little cottage just ahead of them.
‘You’re not serious?’ gasped Luke, watching as the tourists swerved in a great arc before speeding away from the cottage after taking their fill of photos. ‘Someonelivesin that?!’
Luke had barely even glanced at the place before. It was a complete wreck – little more than a ruin. He couldn’t remember anyone living there in all the years he’d been coming to Crumcarey.
‘I’m dead serious,’ said Mr Harris, nodding. ‘Take a look for yourself if you don’t believe me.’
Luke put the truck back in gear and crawled forward so that he could take a closer look. The cottage looked even worse up close. There were tattered tarpaulins strung together everywhere – mostly across different parts of the roof, though it was clear that Crumcarey’s ever-present wind had been playing havoc with them.
Here and there, he could see the tell-tale spots of what looked like bright orange fungus mushrooming from the walls. It was clear someone had been busy with a can or ten of expanding foam – doing their best to fill in some of the gaps. Where the holes were too large for the foam to be of any help, square fenceposts the locals called “stabs” were wedged into the ground – their pointy, tapered ends holding sheets of hardboard in place against the walls.
One or two of the windows were missing panes of glass. In the gaps, he could see bits of cardboard, plastic and tin. One of the frames was being held in place with a piece of wood so flimsy, it looked like it might give way at any moment.
‘I’m guessing she’s only just moved in?’ said Luke.
‘Then you’re guessing wrong,’ said Mr Harris. ‘Our Maggie’s been in there coming up to two years.’
‘Inthatmess?!’ gasped Luke.
‘Aye,’ said Mr Harris. ‘And we’re all pretty impressed with her staying power, I can tell you.’
‘Is she… erm…’ Luke paused. He wanted to know if she was on her own in the crumbling cottage, but he knew if he asked that particular question, his uncle would be on it like a dog with a bone.
‘Tarpaulin Girl – that’s what we call her,’ chuckled Mr Harris fondly, seemingly unaware of Luke’s conundrum. ‘She’s one of those special people who arrives on the island – and stays.’
‘What a name!’ laughed Luke. ‘She sounds like some kind of superhero.’
‘Living like that?’ said Mr Harris. ‘I’d say she is. Even superheroes need a hand sometimes, though. We all want to help her out… but we don’t want to intrude. You know how it is. She’s got to make the first move. Maybe now she’s working for Olive, we’ll all get the chance to know her a bit better… and then we’ll see what we can do.’
‘Well… she’s definitely brave,’ said Luke seriously. ‘I’m not sure I’d be up for staying a single night in that place!’
‘Strange what people will do for love, isn’t it?’ said Mr Harris thoughtfully.
Luke felt a lead weight settle in his stomach. Love? So there was aMrTarpaulin Girl, then? He didn’t know why that should bother him so much… maybe because there was no way he’d have put up withhisMaggie living in that state for so long.
If she was his.
Which she wasn’t.
Of course.
‘Love?’ said Luke, wanting his uncle to go on, but not really sure what else to say to prompt him.
‘Moved here with her man,’ said Mr Harris, a frown marring his usually placid features. ‘He’s long-gone now, though. I don’t know all the details…’
Luke raised his eyebrows at that. He’dneverknown a time when his uncle didn’t have all the details! He stayed quiet, waiting for him to fill the silence.
‘The idiot said he’d be back. Never has been, though,’ he added.
‘Back from where?’ said Luke.
‘Here, there and everywhere, from what I gather,’ said Mr Harris. ‘That card she had this morning? That would have beenfrom him. He took a job on the mainland, and they started sending him all over the world.’
‘And he just left her here… waiting for him?’ said Luke.
‘That’s how I understand it,’ said Mr Harris. ‘I’m surprised she’s still here – and good for her. She does her best, and she’s done quite a lot of work on her own…’
